.
I Corinthians 13:1-8, 13, wrongly translated
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not religion, I am become as sounding brass, and a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge (gnosis); and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not religion, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not religion, it profits me nothing. Religion suffers long, and is kind; religion envies not; religion vaunts not itself, is not puffed up. Does not behave itself unseemly, seeks not her own, is not easily provoked, thinks no evil; Rejoices not in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; Bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Religion never fails; but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. ……. And now abides faith, hope, religion, these three; but the greatest of these is religion.
Romans 13:8, wrongly translated
Owe no man anything, but to be religious toward one another; for he that is religious toward another has fulfilled the law. For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shall not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt be religious toward thy neighbor as thou art religious toward thyself.
I John 4:8-11, wrongly translated
He that is not religious does not know God, for God is religion. In this was manifested God’s religiosity toward us, because God sent His only begotten son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is religion, not that we were religious toward God, but that He was religious toward us, and sent His son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God was so religious toward us, we ought also to be religious toward one another. No man has seen God at any time. If we are religious toward one another, God dwells in us, and His religion is perfected in us.
Religion is all about what we owe God; an unending series of obligatory sacrifices and debt obligations which are never fully paid. Within that bondage of behavior modification and control, love is never fully grasped nor can ever be faithfully expressed.
Romans 8:15 For you have not taken unto yourselves the spirit of bondage unto fear again; but you have taken unto yourselves the spirit of adoption, by which we cry, Abba Father.
The spirit of Christ is a spirit that yearns to be in the Father’s presence, for it is of God. Like magnets attract, so does that spirit by which we were born unto everlasting life desire and seek the presence of God. To dwell in the Father’s presence is really all the spirit of Christ desires. Its fullness can only be found there.
Religion is what man does to live for God, to reach for self-fulfilling righteousness. Love is what God does for and in us through Christ Jesus our Lord. You can not be focused on performing for God and at the same time have God first in your life. Religion focuses on what you do, using your idea of God as a standard. Love is God’s spirit making us alive.
If you are not completely out of debt to God, then you do not have perfect choice, then you are in bondage, and you can not love. In Christ lies our perfect choice. If you are not treasured by God you can treasure no others. If you live in debt you are not free to love; in which case it’s not love, it’s a business transaction. “God, if I do this, will you do that?” Or, “God, I’ve done this and this and that. Now you have to give me what I ask for.”
Religion is antithetical to love.
The word “religion” is used 3X in the New Testament, every one of them in reference to the Jewish religion. Only the use in James has any allusion at all to what God desires for us today.
The word “religious” is used 2X in the New Testament, once referring again to Jews (or Jewish proselytes anyway) and once indicating that only our whole life is an acceptable ” sacrifice in (religious) service to God.
That’s 5 uses of “religion” or “religious,” and only 2 have any reference to our lives today, neither one referring to specific definable behavior. On the other hand, the word love (either noun or verb) is used 258X.
So consider this. You can be religious in your mindset and behavior toward God, resulting in usually feeling short of the mark and far from God. Or you can forget religion and instead focus on His love for you and how you can share with others that love which you receive from Him. Your appreciation for Christ and enjoyment of your relationship with God will only grow. That’s a rewarding way to live.
Most people who once believed unto Jesus Christ have a mix of the two; religion and love. I encourage you to seek love while allowing your inclination toward religion to atrophy and die of malnutrition.
See you at the right hand of God!
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